Habitat ReStore in Demand, in Need of Donations and Volunteers

Portage County’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore has a problem. But as problems go, it’s a good one to have.

Since its mid-August move to a 12,000-square-foot University Plaza building in Kent, the ReStore’s popularity has skyrocketed – meaning the non-profit is always running low on beds, appliances, plastic shopping bags and even volunteers.

Jan Bennett, ReStore manager, is happy to have such a problem, but she needs the community’s help to solve it. Even City Manager Dave Ruller is assisting. He recently shared an appeal for ReStore donations in his Kent 360 blog.

“Our foot traffic has doubled, tripled, probably more,” said Bennett. “Now there are always people in the store. And because we’re selling so much, we need more stuff to sell – and more people to help out.”

The ReStore sells donated items that include new and nearly new building supplies, furniture and appliances at discount prices. Habitat uses the profits to build and rehabilitate houses in Portage County for those in need.

Bennett believes there are several factors behind ReStore’s jump in customers: its newest  location, an expansion in the type of items sold and the depressed economy.

When ReStore relocated last August into the former 50-year home of Callahan’s Carpet House at 1510 S. Water St., it was the store’s second move in less than six months. Habitat first opened its Portage County ReStore on S.R. 59 in Ravenna Township about four years ago, then moved to the former Kent Hardware storefront on South Water Street, which has since been demolished.

“Our downtown location just wasn’t as accessible or visible as this one,” said Bennett. “Now we have better parking and we’re near the movie theaters and shopping.”

With 9,000 square feet of retail space to fill, ReStore expanded its list of accepted donations. The store now sells “everything but clothing,” said Bennett.

“I belong to the Ohio ReStore Council, and I heard at meetings that some of the other ReStores are making money off things like books. I’m not a knick-knack, book kind of gal, but I thought, ‘If other stores are making money off stuff like that, I’m open to it.’ So now we’re taking things we normally didn’t take in,” she explained.

Being situated in a college town gives Kent’s ReStore a different flavor than those in other towns.

“There are a lot of younger kids around who like to shop here. So we sell some pretty unusual décor pieces – things a ReStore wouldn’t take in a non-college town,” Bennett explained. “And because of the high rental rate in town, we have a lot of landlords buying appliances.”

Having 3,000 square feet of attached warehouse space allowed Bennett to establish dedicated areas for an appliance testing/repair station and a woodshop where broken items, like dresser drawers, can be repaired for resale.

The long-depressed economy has played a big role in the ReStore’s customer increase.

“There has been a lot more need this year, with people having fires at their homes and losing their homes. There are so many people in their 40s and 50s starting over. I get someone coming in here almost daily telling stories that break my heart,” said Bennett. “The need out there is unbelievable, but I don’t think (most) people realize where our community stands right now.”

To better meet that need, Bennett said she is “in desperate need of volunteers all the time. Anybody with any kind of skill is needed here. In February alone we logged 950 volunteer hours, but we still need more help.”

Jobs for volunteers include cleaning or repairing donated items, loading and unloading vehicles, moving furniture between the warehouse and sales floor, a variety of clerical tasks and even just answering the phones.

Donations, which are tax deductible, can be dropped off during regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Volunteers, when available, will pick up large items.

For more information, call 330-677-8881.